Closing the Temple of Isis

This is the last one! Whew! The closing ritual for SunFest XXII.

At the appointed time, all form a series of semi-circles before the Temple of Isis (as in Carrying the Sun). Priest/ess of Isiopolis brings the still-burning brazier that was used in the opening rite to center. NOTE: If the Temple has a permanent fire circle in middle, priesthood makes sure fire is burning before the rite. Priest/ess of Isiopolis comes to center and walks around the circle so all can hear her/him.

Breathing the Breath of Isis

P/s Isiopolis: Let us breathe together. In and out. The air is the breath of Isis. The air is the air Isis fanned into the nostrils of Osiris to return Him to life. The air is the breath of Isis. And therefore do we breathe the breath of Isis. Take the breath of Isis deep into your lungs. Exhale and relax, relax into the supporting Wings of Isis as you continue to breathe Her breath.

We came to this beautiful place and together celebrated the light of the Radiant Goddess. We enlivened and protected our temple with a spark from the Heart of Isis and a spark from our own hearts. That spark was our starting place, and now it is our parting place.

In a moment, we will withdraw the energy that we gave in the beginning and take it back into our hearts. To do this, let us stretch out our hands toward the Fire of Isis and, in vision, see the Divine Fire burning in our hands as it they are stretched out toward the fire. Breathe in and withdraw your hand from the flame…and hold it to your heart. Feel the flame pulsing and beating in tune with your heart. Let us close ours eyes and become aware of that pulsing heartbeat. My Mother, my heart. My Mother, my heart. The Flame of Isis is now burning, beating within.

The Temple of Isis is now within our hearts and we are ever the keepers of the Temple of the Goddess. Let the Priestesses and Priests of the Ways come forth and close the Ways for us.

The Closing of the Ways

Priest/ess of the Heart comes to center—between the Temple and the Lotus Pool.

Ps Heart: Let the shrine of our hearts, the place of the Iset Ib—the Isis Heart—be closed.

Priest/esses of Heaven and the Otherworld come to center.

P/s Otherworld: Let the shrine of the Otherworld be closed (makes thegesture of the Closing of the Shrine).

P/s Heaven: Let the shrine of Heaven be closed (gestures).

Pries/tesses return to places. Priest/ess of Earth goes to center and turns to the North.

P/s Earth: Let the shrine of the North be closed (gestures).

Priest/ess of Earth returns to place. Priest/ess of Water goes to center and turns to the West.

P/s Water: Let the shrine of the West be closed (gestures).

Priest/ess of Water returns to place. Priest/ess of Fire goes to center and turns to the South.

P/s Fire: Let the shrine of the South be closed (gestures).

Priest/ess of Fire returns to place. Priest/ess of Air goes to center and turns to the East.

P/s Air: Let the shrine of the East be closed (gestures).

P/s Isiopolis: And finally, let us name and bid farewell to the many aspects of Isis that we honored in our Cities and the other Deities Who have honored us with Their presence.

Thanksgiving of the Cities

Priest/ess of Philae comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Philae: We thank Isis the Mother for Her presence. We thank the Beautiful Child, Horus, and the Beloved Father, Osiris. We thank You and bid You… (turning toward the Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Philae returns to place and Priest/ess of the Faiyum comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Faiyum: We thank Isis Wadjet, the Green One, the Grain Goddess for Her presence. We thank the Lady of Harvests, Renenutet, and the fierce Lord of the River, Sobek. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Faiyum returns to place and Priest/ess of Abydos comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Abydos: We thank Isis the Black One, the Lady of Mystery for Her presence. We thank the Dark Sister, Nephthys and the Beautiful Judge of the Underworld, Osiris. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Abydos returns to place and Priest/ess of Sais comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Sais: We thank Isis the Wise for Her presence. We thank the Lady of Weaving, War, and Wisdom, Neith. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Sais returns to place and Priest/ess of Memphis comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Memphis: We thank Isis the Healer for Her presence. We thank the Lion Lady of Surgeons, Sekhmet, and the Lord of Crafts, Ptah. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Memphis returns to place and Priest/ess of Denderah comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Denderah: We thank Isis the Golden One, Lady of Joy for Her presence. We thank the Great One, Hathor, Lady of the Dance, and the Birth God, Bes. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Denderah returns to place and Priest/ess of Alexandria comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Alexandria: We thank Isis of the Ten Thousand Names for Her presence. We thank also the Bull of Heaven, Earth and the Underworld, Sarapis, and the Beautiful Divinized Lover, Antinous. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Alexandria returns to place and Priest/ess of Hermopolis comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Hermopolis: We thank Isis, Great of Magic for Her presence. We thank the Lord of Wisdom, Thoth, and the Eight Great Deities of the Ogdoad. We thank You and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Priest/ess of Hermopolis returns to place and Priest/ess of Isiopolis comes to center and turns toward group.

P/s Isiopolis: We thank Isis the Radiant Goddess, Isis the Winged One, for Her presence. Isis is all things and all things are Isis. We thank You Great Goddess and bid You…(turning toward Shrine) hail and farewell!

All: Hail and farewell!

Blessing of the Goddess

Priest/ess of Isiopolis returns to group.

P/s Isiopolis: (To group) May we live always beneath the shadow of Isis’ magical wings. May we always breathe Her breath. May Her fire always illuminate our hearts. Amma, Iset.